Hair curling implement

ABSTRACT

A steam curling iron is provided with an expansible mandrel carried on the main curling arm of the iron, the mandrel being constituted by a foraminous screen which can be wound and unwound by manually rotatable means to vary the diameter of the mandrel for different size curls. Steam generated within the curling arm is projected through perforations therein to the interior of the mandrel. Treatment liquid or water is metered in discrete quantities to the curling arm from a reservoir within a handle portion in accordance with the operation of a control button. 
     .Iadd.The invention also provides a valve system operated by a button for pumping metered quantities of liquid along the curling arm, and also provides a removable liquid reservoir located in a concealed portion of the handle beneath a closure. .Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair curling implements, such as curling ironsfor example, and is concerned particularly with hair curling implementsof the type which are used to set or curl hair by the application ofsteam.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an implement for thesetting of curls of different sizes, the implement providing anexpansible mandrel onto which the hair is wound and clamped, and meansfor applying steam to the interior of the mandrel, which is perforatedto allow passage of the steam to the hair.

A hair curling implement in accordance with the invention comprises anelongated curling arm, the curling arm having an elongated tubularbarrel with a longitudinally extending slot therein; steam generatingmeans mounted within said barrel; a clamping arm pivotally mounted onthe curling arm and adapted in the clamped position to cooperate with alongitudinally extending upper region of the barrel; an expansiblemandrel constituted by a resilient perforate screen anchored along onelongitudinal edge to the barrel and extending through said slot, theperforate screen being looped into a generally cylindrical configurationencircling a longitudinally extending lower region of the barrel, saidlower region of the barrel having perforations for the passage of steamfrom the steam generating means to the interior of the mandrel; a rotaryanchoring member mounted within the barrel for rotation about alongitudinal axis, the anchoring member providing a longitudinallyextending arm offset from said axis, the screen being anchored along asecond longitudinal edge to said arm of the anchoring member; andmanually rotatable means mounted on said curling arm and coupled to theanchoring member for rotating the anchoring member whereby to expand orcontract the mandrel.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the implement, some exterior parts beingbroken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3--3 in FIG. 2 showing the expansiblemandrel in the fully expanded condition;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 3--3 in FIG. 2 but showing the expansiblemandrel in the fully wound condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the metering means shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a cross section on line 6--6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7--7 in FIG. 1 showing a configuration ofparts when the mandrel is in the fully expanded condition; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the configuration ofparts when the mandrel is in the fully wound condition.

Referring to the drawings, the hair curling implement comprises a hollowcurling arm having an elongated tubular barrel 10 of circular crosssection and a hollow handle portion 11 of plastic. The barrel is formedwith a longitudinally extending slot 12, the purpose of which willbecome apparent subsequently. A conventional clamping arm 13 ispivotally mounted on the curling arm, being connected thereto by a pivotpin 14 (FIG. 2), and being spring-biassed to the clamped position by atorsion spring 15. The clamping arm 13 is provided at one end by aplastic handle portion 16, which can be operated by the thumb of a userholding the handle portion 11, for manipulating the clamping arm. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping arm 13 is shaped to conformto the cylindrical shape of the barrel 10, and is adapted in the clampedposition to cooperate with a longitudinally extending upper region ofthe barrel.

Extending axially within the tubular barrel 10 is a steam generatingassembly comprising an elongated electric resistance heating element 17,this being encased within a metal sheath 18 having a number of groovesor channels 19 extending along the exterior of its lower portion. Theencased heating element assembly 17, 18 is in turn encased within atubular housing 20, the latter being formed with three longitudinal rowsof perforations 21 communicating with the grooves 19 so as to permit thepassage of steam therefrom to an intermediate annular space or chamber22 between the housing 20 and the interior surface of the barrel 10. Oneend of the heated casing 18 is shaped to provide a baffle member 23 ofsubstantially the same outside diameter as the internal diameter of thebarrel 10. This baffle member is shaped to provide a labyrinth ofchannels constituted by a series of interconnected circumferentialgrooves 24, the labyrinth providing a fluid exit 25 communicating withthe longitudinal grooves 19 and a fluid inlet 26 communicating with aflexible supply tube 27.

The curling arm 10 carries an expansible mandrel 28, which isconstituted by a resilient, foraminous screen of stainless steel. Thescreen is rectangular in shape, having an imperforate peripheral regionwhich bounds the foraminous, steam-pervious central region of thescreen, and is of a width corresponding to the length of the slot 12through which the screen extends. The shorter pair of edges of therectangular screen extend longitudinally with respect to the tubularbarrel 10, one of these edges being anchored to the exterior of thebarrel by rivets 29, and the other being anchored to a longitudinallyextending arm 30 of a rotary anchoring member 31. The rotary anchoringmember 31 is mounted at one end of the barrel 10 for rotation about alongitudinal axis, the arm 30 being offset from the axis. As illustratedin the sectional view of FIGS. 7 and 8, one end of the barrel 10provides a stop 32 which is engageable with an abutment 33 on the rotaryanchoring member to limit rotation of the latter in either direction.The rotary anchoring member 31 is coupled to a manually rotatable member34 of plastic. The member 34 is mounted at one end of the barrel 10 andconnected thereto by a swivel joint so as to be coaxial with the barrel.The foraminous screen is looped into a generally cylindricalconfiguration, extending from one of its anchored edges to the other, soas to form the mandrel 28. The screen thus encircles a longitudinallyextending lower region of the tubular barrel 10, which lower region isformed with rows of perforations 35 to permit the discharge of steamfrom the chamber 22 to the interior of the mandrel. In order to expandor contract the mandrel 28, the user simply rotates the member 34 in theappropriate direction.

Treatment liquid or water is supplied from a replaceable cartridge 36,forming a reservoir, mounted in the handle portion 11. The cartridge 36communicates with a deformable container 37 by way of a soft rubber cap38, and is provided with a one-way valve 39 for controlling the supplyof liquid from the cartridge. The deformable container 37 communicatesby way of a one-way valve 40 with the tube 27. The handle portion 11 isshaped to provide internal abutments 41 which engage the container. Thehandle portion 11 also carries a manually engageable push button 42,having an abutment 43 which is adapted to engage the container fordeforming the container. Thus, when a user depresses the button 42, ametered discrete quantity of liquid is squeezed out of the container viathe valve 40. This liquid passes via the tube 27 into the labyrinth ofchannels 24 and thence to the grooves 19. The liquid is vaporized, steamissuing from the perforations 21 into the space 22, and from the space22 to the interior of the mandrel via the openings 35.

.Iadd.As shown in FIG. 2 the handle is provided with a closure 44,concealing the cartridge 36. The closure 44 is hingeably mounted at oneend to spring 45. At its other end a lip 46 engages a portion of handle11. A finger recess 47 in closure 44 permits it to be slid endwiseagainst spring 45 to release lip 46. Spring 45 then swings closure 44open for access to the interior of the handle. .Iaddend.

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A hair curling implementcomprisingan elongated curling arm, the curling arm having an elongatedtubular barrel with a longitudinally extending slot therein; steamgenerating means mounted within said barrel; a clamping arm pivotallymounted on the curling arm and adapted in the clamped position tocooperate with a longitudinally extending upper region of the barrel; anexpansible mandrel constituted by a resilient perforate screen anchoredalong one longitudinal edge to the barrel and extending through saidslot, the perforate screen being looped into a generally cylindricalconfiguration encircling a longitudinally extending lower region of thebarrel, said lower region of the barrel having perforations for thepassage of steam from the steam generating means to the interior of themandrel; a rotary anchoring member mounted within the barrel forrotation about a longitudinal axis, the anchoring member providing alongitudinally extending arm offset from said axis, the screen beinganchored along a second longitudinal edge to said arm of the anchoringmember; and manually rotatable means mounted on said curling arm andcoupled to the anchoring member for rotating the anchoring memberwhereby to expand or contract the mandrel.
 2. A hair curling implementaccording to claim 1, said manually rotatable means being mounted at oneend of the barrel and connected thereto by a swivel joint.
 3. A haircurling implement according to claim 2, wherein said one end of thebarrel provides a stop engageable with an abutment on the rotaryanchoring member to limit rotation of the rotary anchoring member ineither direction.
 4. A hair curling implement according to claim 1,wherein said perforate resilient screen is of rectangular configurationhaving a width corresponding to the length of said slot and a pair ofshorter edges by which it is anchored to the barrel and said arm of theanchoring member, respectively.
 5. A hair curling implement according toclaim 4, wherein the screen is a foraminous metal screen.
 6. A haircurling implement according to claim 5, wherein the screen is ofstainless steel.
 7. A hair curling implement according to claim 6,wherein the screen has an imperforate peripheral region bounding aforaminous, steam-pervious, central region.
 8. A hair curling implementaccording to claim 1, wherein the steam generating means comprises anenlongated heating element extending axially within said tubular barrel,the heating element being formed with exterior grooves, a tubularhousing encasing the heating element and being spaced from the tubularbarrel to define therewith an intermediate space, the tubular housinghaving perforations communicating with the grooves, and means forsupplying treatment liquid to the grooves to be vaporized therein intosteam.
 9. A hair curling implement according to claim 8, including abaffle member mounted at one end of the heating element within saidtubular barrel, the baffle member providing a labyrinth of channelshaving an exit communicating with said grooves in the heating elementand an inlet communicating with metering means for metering discretequantities of treatment liquid thereto.
 10. A hair curling implementaccording to claim 9, said curling arm having a hollow handle portionhousing a reservoir for the supply of treatment liquid to the meteringmeans, said metering means being constituted by a deformable containerhoused within said handle portion, the deformable container having aninlet connected to the reservoir by a first one-way valve and an outletconnected to said labyrinth of channels by a second one-way valve, saidhandle portion providing internal abutment means engaging the deformablecontainer, and said handle portion carrying a manually engageableabutment member adapted to engage the container for deforming samewhereby to meter treatment liquid to said labyrinth of channels.
 11. Ahair curling implement comprisinga hollow curling arm having a hollowhandle portion, said curling arm having an elongated tubular barrel witha longitudinally extending slot therein, steam generating means mountedwithin the tubular body, manually operable metering means mounted withinsaid hollow handle portion and communicating with said steam generatingmeans for metering discrete quantities of treatment liquid thereto, aclamping arm pivotally mounted on said curling arm and adapted in theclamped position to cooperate with a longitudinally extending upperregion of said barrel, the clamping arm being spring-biassed to theclamped position, an expansible mandrel constituted by a perforateresilient screen anchored along one longitudinal edge to said tubularbarrel and extending through said slot, the resilient screen beinglooped into a generally cylindrical configuration encircling a lowerregion of said tubular barrel, said lower region having perforations forthe passage of steam from the steam generating means to the mandrel, arotary anchoring member mounted within said tubular body for rotationabout a longitudinal axis, the resilient screen being anchored along asecond longitudinal edge to the anchoring member, and a manuallyrotatable member mounted on one end of the tubular barrel coaxiallytherewith remote from said handle portion and connected to the barrel bya swivel joint, the rotatable member being coupled to said rotaryanchoring member for rotating the anchoring member whereby to expand orcontract said mandrel. .Iadd.
 12. A hair curling implement having ahollow curling arm with a handle portion, the curling arm having anelongated tubular barrel, and containing steam generating means therein,and there being opening means therein for release of steam therefrom fortreatment of the hair, the improvement comprising; liquid reservoirmeans mounted in said handle portion, and having an outlet; one-wayvalve means communicating with said outlet of said reservoir means andpermitting withdrawal of liquid from said reservoir means, but resistingre-entry of liquid therein; a deformable container in said handlecommunicating at one end with said reservoir means through said one-wayvalve means, a second one-way valve means at the other end of saiddeformable container, permitting exit of liquid therefrom, and resistingreturn of liquid therethrough, said deformable container being adaptedto be compressed, and manually operable means for compressing saiddeformable container, release of said manually operable means permittingdilation of said deformable container, and, a supply tube communicatingbetween said second one-way valve means and said steam generating meansfor carrying liquid from said deformable container to said steamgenerating means in response to operation of said manually operablemeans. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. The hair curling implement as claimed inclaim 12 and including a soft rubber cap on one end of said liquidreservoir means around said one-way valve means, said cap being shapedand dimensioned to fit within said one end of said deformable container,whereby to provide a good seal therebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 14. Thehair curling implement as claimed in claim 12 including abutment meanswithin said handle portion, said deformable container resting againstsaid abutment means, and said container being formed in an elongatedtubular shape of deformable material, and said manually operable meanscomprising a button accessible from the exterior of said handle means,and movable relative to said abutment means to and fro to compress saiddeformable container thereagainst, and said container being resilientand returning said button to its normal position when released..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 15. A hair curling implement having a hollow curlingarm with a hollow handle portion, the curling arm having an elongatedtubular barrel and containing steam generating means therein, and therebeing opening means therein for release of steam therefrom for treatmentof the hair and having a supply tube for communicating liquid to saidsteam generating means, the improvement comprising; replaceable liquidreservoir means of elongated tubular shape shaped to fit within saidhollow handle portion and being adapted to communicate with said supplytube for delivery of liquid to said steam generating means in saidcurling arm, and openable closure means hingedly mounted on said handleportion and providing access to said reservoir means, further includinghinge means at one end of said closure means, spring means connectedwith said hinge means, and with said handle, and including engagingmeans at the other end of said closure means for engaging with a portionof said handle and securing said closure means in the closed position..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 16. A hair curling implement as claimed in claim 15wherein said closure means is longitudinally movable against said springmeans, and including a finger recess in said closure means whereby thesame may be moved against said spring means as aforesaid. .Iaddend.